The 2005 Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy (WashACE) Redbook (costs comparisons between states) shows Washington is the sixth most costly state in the nation to do business. Of the five cost measurements, only the cost of electricity is below national average. According to information from the Milken Institute, Washington is six percent higher in wages and seven percent higher in taxes and that is before we start comparing ourselves with China, India, Vietnam and other low-cost foreign competitors. “If lawmakers pile on new costs, we can see the competitiveness gains melt like chocolate in the sun,” AWB President Don Brunell told the Vancouver Executive last week.

 

Remember 1993? AWB had a sign on its building: “It’s the Economy, Don’t Kill It!” Well, we’ve washed it off. It is going up again! Our concern is the cumulative impact of the costs of anti-employer before the Legislature. We’re not waiting like we did in 1993—we can’t afford to have us sit back and see what the Legislature and governor do!

 

While we like being the nation’s number one exporting state, we don’t like the fact that we are the highest cost state for unemployment and minimum wage. Get a copy of the WashACE Redbook and see how we stand. Then tell you legislators not to “pile on” costs to make us uncompetitive and lose jobs. Contact AWB’s Lex Nepomuceno at AlexisN@awb.org to order your Redbook.

 

At last week’s Lobby Lunch, Gov. Gregoire said she is working on a budget without new tax increases, but she left the door open to that possibility by stating that she still had to be able to look herself in the eyes in the mirror every morning following policy decisions. Other priorities she stressed included health care, education and creating one stop shopping for permits. Gregoire also stated that the push for election reform and government accountability needs to be slowed down.

 

The unions are pushing employer paid family leave insurance legislation. The family leave insurance bills (SB 5069 and HB 1173) will be heard in early February. AWB is working with our counterpart in California, the only state to actually pass such a program, to research the impact it has had on employers and competitiveness. Contact our legislators today and tell them to oppose SB 5069 and HB 1173. It is not about families and kids. It is about keeping jobs here in Washington. It is part of the cumulative effect of costs. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

Gov. Gregoire will address AWB’s members at lunch on Feb. 9 in Olympia. It is part of our Legislative Reception and Board meeting. Contact AWB’s Bonnie Bollig for details at BonnieB@awb.org, or go to AWB’s Web site: http://www.awb.org/.

 

Last week Marriann Tefft, wife of AWB Counsel Kris Tefft, said skyrocketing malpractice insurance rates are impacting her and her family. In her testimony before a Senate committee, Tefft who is currently pregnant, said her trusted obstetrician will be unable to deliver their next child. Sadly, Tefft’s OB/GYN is being forced to cease delivering babies due to insurance costs that rose 19 percent last year. "She saved my life,” Tefft said of her doctor, who was there for her when she had a miscarriage. “She's delivered all my kids. It's not something you take lightly. You want someone you know delivering your baby." E-mail your legislators and tell them to support meaningful medical malpractice lawsuit reform. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

Bill to California Auto Emissions Standards – Introduced in Senate!
SB 5099, which would bring California’s ultra stringent auto emissions standards to Washington, has been introduced by Sen. Erik Poulsen, D-Seattle. AWB opposes Poulsen’s bill, which will raise the cost of automobiles and damage the economy without providing real environmental benefits. E-mail you legislators and tell them to say no to SB 5099. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

The push for a revote in the gubernatorial election continues albeit at a relatively slow pace. Last week Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges denied the GOP’s request for "expedited discovery" of evidence, including a large number of election records and testimony of state and local election officials. Bridges also rejected the Democrats’ request to halt discovery until he rules on the Democrat claim that he lacks jurisdiction in the case. Republicans, who want a revote in the gubernatorial election, are challenging the hand recount that put Christine Gregoire in office as governor, insisting that there were too many irregularities in the process for it to be a reliable vote count.

 

AWB Counsel Kris Tefft was there to testify against HB 1311, which would increase L&I's authority to impose administrative penalties on employers for alleged wage and hour violations, when it was heard by the House Commerce & Labor Committee. Along with AWB Employment Law Committee member Doug Smith, partner at Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, Tefft stressed that the bill, as written, should be rejected because it creates an uneven playing field for employers. Call or e-mail your legislators and tell them to oppose HB 1311. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.

 

Tomorrow afternoon AWB Counsel Kris Tefft will speak to an assembly of the Washington Association of Health Underwriters on the issue of lawsuit abuse reform. Contact Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org 

AWB’s Land Use Committee will be meeting this Wednesday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m-12 noon. For more information, please contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or mailto:BonnieB@awb.org.

 

AWB’s Mellani Hughes McAleenan will testify in opposition to HB 1221, Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m. before the House Health Care Committee. The bill would allow employers to enroll in programs administered by the state health care authority. While this proposal may seem appealing on its face, there are many insurance principles that are violated because the bill doesn’t require the state to follow the same rules private businesses have to follow. Contact your legislators and tell them HB 1221 is a bad idea. Link to our Web site: http://www.awb.org/ and send them an e-mail. Contact AWB’s Mellani Hughes McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

 

AWB is disappointed that this legislative session’s workers’ comp bills focus primarily on retro organizations’ use of refunds. How participants in retro programs deal with their refunds is their issue—not that of the Legislature or governor. AWB is pushing to have lawmakers focus on reforms to time-loss benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and other cost drivers. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

Unemployment Insurance 101 – Everything You Need to Know About the UI Reforms!The Legislature made significant improvements to the unemployment insurance system in 2003, but there is a strong desire on the part of some to undo those changes, some of which have not yet even been fully implemented. Come join AWB this Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 3:00 pm to learn from the lobbyists who helped pass the reform about what improvements were made, what challenges we need to protect against, and why it matters to you.Contact Mellani Hughes McAleenan at (360) 943-1600 or MellaniM@awb.org.

 

Don’t miss the next Lobby Lunch on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 12 noon. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, and Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, will be the featured speakers. Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at (360) 943-1600 or ShannonG@awb.org.

 

The AWB Transportation Committee will be meeting Wednesday, February 2, 3:30 p.m. The committee will be tracking transportation legislation. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

 

AWB’s Human Resources Council will meet Friday, Feb. 4, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in Olympia. The purpose of the meeting will be to review legislative issues related to human resources as they further develop. Contact Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

 

AWB’s 2005 Legislative Briefing & Reception will be held Wednesday, Feb. 9 at Olympia’s Red Lion Hotel. This year’s reception is especially important since we will have a new governor and many new legislators. The election results have presented new challenges and opportunities for business. Your newly-elected senators and representatives will have a lot of pressure from all sides on many issues. Your personal contact is the most successful way to influence legislators to make business issues a priority. An improved business climate is good for all citizens of Washington state as it means more jobs and a healthy economic future. The Legislative Briefing & Reception is one of the best places to meet legislators, state-elected officials and agency directors face-to-face to discuss concerns and priorities. Each year, more than 80 percent of the legislators and state officials attend our reception, which draws more than 500 attendees. Don't miss this important event! To register online, go to www.awb.org/events/legreception.asp. Contact Bonnie Bollig at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieB@awb.org.

 

The Dept. of Ecology is inviting public comment on the first of a two-phase process to develop new regulations to differentiate between clean soils, contaminated soils, and dredged materials and determine when soils and dredged materials are subject to solid-waste permits. Ecology expects to file another rule proposal in the spring, after working with interested parties to further clarify the definitions. Go to www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/activity/wac173350.html. Comments will be accepted through March 2. Contact Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.

 

AWB’s Executive Committee will meet Friday, March 11, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Olympia. You are invited to attend the Executive Luncheon (12 noon-1:30 p.m.). Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington will be the luncheon speaker. Executive Meeting, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

Former Michigan Governor John Engler, the new president of the National Association of Manufacturers, will be our keynote speaker on May 24 at the AWB Annual Spring Board meeting in Spokane.We will meet at the Davenport this time.Mark your calendars and make your reservations. Contact Amy Johnson at AmyJ@awb.org.

 

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